Large Scale Central

Vinyl transfers for my passenger cars.

Modeling
#21

If any of you have significant others who are into scrapbooking (or are looking for an excuse to cut vinyl yourself), the new Cricut “Explore” machine will cut .stl files, which you can create in vector software such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw (or others). You import the artwork from your desktop, put the vinyl in the cutter, and you get your artwork cut out for you. You can get adhesive vinyl sheets from a number of suppliers online.

The other cool thing with this machine is that you can design full-color artwork and print it out on a vinyl sheet on your desktop printer, then import that same image into the Cricut, and it will cut out your artwork for you. I haven’t had a chance to play with that aspect of it, but I definitely see me using that feature for cutting station signs in the future.

Later,

K

#22

Kevin,

I was looking at this machine and have to say it looks pretty dang cool. $250 bucks on Amazon and the company has a free design software program, don’t know how good it is. I assume it cuts the normally white negative space? Kinda pricy but for one locomotive I had vinyl quoted at $40 bucks. so depending on how much your gonna do it could pay for itself quickly.

#23

It cuts and you weed (remove) the parts you don’t want. Got tweezers?

#24

There are also other digital cutting systems out there. My wife has two Cricuts, but we both get frustrated with their ‘closed’ system. These other digital cutting systems (such as the Gazelle which I got her for Christmas), allows you to use your system fonts - and thus the free fonts you can find on-line (such as Railroad Roman).

#25

Matt I will have to remember that, if I ever give up on hand painting my lettering

#26

I have the wife talked into it I think. Even if it doesn’t pan out for railroads she will use it.

#27

I have a big question about this Cricut machine: their website says it cuts pieces as small as 1/4" and I’m wondering if that is true?

If it is, I couldn’t use this machine for anything smaller than 1/4" but it might be good for bigger lettering and graphics, and, considering what the guys in Canada charge us for their admittedly very very good work, it might be worth it.

#28

Looked at the cricut tech’ approx. 3 yrs back at that time restricted to only certain fonts using some cartridges; as mentioned smallest .25" (can actually weed a bit smaller than that i’ve found); what vinyl usable in cric’machine … don’t recall, But decided to delay the new front dr. purchase (till last jan.) and purchased a roland sv-8 instead

btw vinyl (smf brand) 2ml 7yr outdoor say a yard of 24" wide less than $10cdn, strip it down to 8" width …

#29

Doug Cannon said:

Looked at the cricut tech’ approx. 3 yrs back at that time restricted to only certain fonts using some cartridges; as mentioned smallest .25" (can actually weed a bit smaller than that i’ve found); what vinyl usable in cric’machine … don’t recall, But decided to delay the new front dr. purchase (till last jan.) and purchased a roland sv-8 instead

btw vinyl (smf brand) 2ml 7yr outdoor say a yard of 24" wide less than $10cdn, strip it down to 8" width …

Doug, how small will the Roland SV-8 cut? How small (height) letters, for instance?

#30

“My wife has two Cricuts, but we both get frustrated with their ‘closed’ system.”

The new Explore is no longer limited to their cartridges. They finally saw the light in that respect. The Explore design software is web-based, so you can use any font on your computer in conjunction with it, import jpegs for it to trace, and all sorts of cool things. It’s pretty slick! (In fact, they’re now even accommodating the “Sure Cuts-a-lot” software that they had previously fought against.) I was going between the Silhouette and the Explore for my wife’s Christmas, and once I saw that the Explore accepted .stl files from Illustrator or similar software, that tipped the scales. Allison’s very heavily invested in Cricut cartridges, so for me, it was the best of both worlds.

Later,

K

#31

Matt Kirichok said:

There are also other digital cutting systems out there. My wife has two Cricuts, but we both get frustrated with their ‘closed’ system. These other digital cutting systems (such as the Gazelle which I got her for Christmas), allows you to use your system fonts - and thus the free fonts you can find on-line (such as Railroad Roman).

As does the Roland STIKA…
A4 size sheets can be bought in the UK in about 20 different colours including one that is thinly coated with micro thin copper that printed circuits can be printed on to size required…
I have also seen it mentioned that the vinyl covering for model aircraft can be cut (to size) and used in vinyl machines. Not tried it myself.

#32

John Caughey said:

This is another source for vinyl lettering.

http://www.gscalegraphics.net/custom-lettering.html

I like the owner, he has been fair with me. That’s my only connection.

John

I’ve had great success with Del! (letters and RC)

#33

“The new Explore is no longer limited to their cartridges. They finally saw the light in that respect”

Thanks, that’s good to know.

#34

**John Passaro said:**Doug, how small will the Roland SV-8 cut? How small (height) letters, for instance?

John;

I’ve cut down to 3mm on a test/sample sheet in ‘franklin gothic medium’ ranging from 30mm—3mm, BUT that sample at 3mm the weeding (by this novice) was a failure !! At 8mm was almost, with only 1 of 13 characters weeded badly.

Recently before Xmas, I did 10mm in ‘courier new tur’ which all weeded well (3 ‘boards’ of 22 characters ea., only need 2 ‘boards’) .

*Unless peoples like a challenge, and/or have to order product from out-of-country (base+exchg/s/h/i $) to supply your forecast home projects … do business with the 3 or 4 previously mentioned ‘shops’ !

#35

My wife has the OLD Cricut, and was very disappointed that I was stuck with their cartridges, which I found too cartoon-like for even GARDEN railways.

I like the sure cuts a lot add on, but by the time we got ours for scrapbooking, Cricut no longer supported it.

But I did find a Roman type font, and began using white decal paper to make my own letters for my passenger cars. I think there are photos of the final product in the photo section of this board!